Composite garment



July 23, 1963 D. HOWELL 3,098,485

COMPOSITE GARMENT Filed May 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 23, 1963 D. HOWELL 3,098,485

COMPOSITE GARMENT Filed May 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3,098,485 CGMPOSETE GARMENT Dixie Howell, McCornb, Miss, assignor to Kellwood Qompany, Chicago, Ill, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 2, 1962, Ser. No. 191,932 6 Claims. (Cl. 123-455) My invention relates to a composite garment generally and more specifically to l-adys nightgown embodying a built-in brassiere.

The prime object of my invention is the provision of a ladys nightgown including a built-in brassiere which efl'ectively supports the breasts of the wearer for health and aesthetic purposes.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a garment of the foregoing character which is adjustable on the body of the wearer to afford a high degree of comfort without binding.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a garment of the foregoing character which avoids the use of conventional fastener means.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description when the same is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a composite garme-nt in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar view, with certain parts broken away to show details of construction, and with the adjustable tie straps in disengaged relation;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view, on an enlarged scale, showing the garment of my invention and with parts broken away to show details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the garment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, with certain parts broken away and in cross-section to show details of construction.

Referring to the drawings, the composite garment of my invention includes an upper bodice portion indicated generally by the numeral 10, a waistband portion 11 and a skirt portion 12. The waistband portion 11 comprises a general diamond-shaped front panel 13 stitched along the sides of the ganment to a generally rectangular rear panel 14. As will be seen clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2 the upper and lower edges to and 17 respectively, of the front waistband panel 13 are arcuate in form. The skirt portion 12 which is of generally conventional construction is stitched to the lower edges 17 and 18 respectively, of the waistband panels 13 and 14. Stitched to the upper edges 16 of the panel 13 is a generally inverted V-shaped section 19 which is formed of a suitable elastic material such as Spandex lace and which is stretchable in a direction circumferentially of the body of the wearer. it will be noted that the upper and lower edges of section 19 are arcuate in configuration. A pair of pockets 21 and 22 for accommodating the breasts of the wearer are each stitched to an upper edge of the section 19. The pockets 21 and 22 are identical in construction and each is formed of three plies of fabric, with each ply being formed of suitably shaped sections which when stitched together will aiford a generally conical construction. In the present embodiment, the outer and inner plies 23- and 24 respectively, preferably are formed of 40 denier nylon knitted fabric while the intermediate ply 26 is formed of 1a stabilized 15 denier nylon knitted fabric. The top edge of each of the breast pockets is enclosed in a binding 27 and attached to the uppermost portion of each edge is a section of elastic affording a loop 28: for receiving the tie straps hereinafter to be described.

,Overlying the breast pockets 21 and 22 are sections 29 and 31 respectively. Each section is formed of two plies lid-98,485 Patented July 23, 1963 ice of fabric, the outer ply 32 being preferably a 15 denier knitted nylon fabric and the inner ply 33 being preferably a 40 denier knitted nylon fabric. Each section 29 and 31 is provided with a plurality of darts. 34 which together with the shining along the lower edge thereof at the line of attachment to the waistband panel 13 affords a desired pocket formation. Referring to FIG. 1 it will be seen that overlying section 3 1 at its lower inner end overlaps the corresponding portion of the opposite section 29 so that as viewed in FIG. 1 the sections 29* and 31 completely conceal the breast receiving pockets 2 1 and 22 when the garment is worn. The upper edges of the sections 29 and 31 are each bound by a binding 36 having substantial width, as seen in FIG. 3 and, at the topmost portion of each section, the binding is provided with an apperture 57 for receiving a tie strap 38. It will be noted that the apertures 37 are substantially in registration with the respective elastic loops 28. Lace 39 is applied over each of the sections for ornamental purposes.

Stitched to the upper edge of the rear section 14 and to the side edges of the sections 29 and 31 is a panel 41 formed of suitable elastic material which is stretch-able only in a direction circumierentially of the body of the wearer. This elastic material may be identical to the material forming the section 19, and similarly may consist of Spandex lace. Attached to the upper edge of the panel 41 and extending coextensively therewith is [an elastic tape 42 which in normal relaxed condition serves to gather the upper edge portion of the panel 41 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3. As will be seen, the elastic tape 42 is encased within an edge binding. A pair of tie straps 38 of non-stretchable material is attached to the upper edge of panel 41. The straps are in spaced relation to each other and each is attached substantially medially of its length to afiord a pair of ties, at least one of which is intended to be passed through a cooperating aperture 37 and loop 28, the ties thereafter being tied together in a bow in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. It will be understood that the ties thus may be adjusted in length so as to effect a desired fitting of the garment on the person of the wearer.

In use, the garment is applied and adjusted to the body of the wearer in the usual manner. With the breasts received in the pockets, the ties are adjusted to afford a desired support both for health and aesthetic reasons. It will be apparent that the elastic loops 28 permit necessary stretching of the breast pockets without binding and that the elastic sections and panels at the front and rear of the bodice portion will expand with the body movements of the wearer, thereby eliminating any discomfort to the wearer. Further, it will be apparent that the use of conventional fastening means, such as hooks and eyes and snap fasteners, normally employed in garments of this type have been eliminated entirely.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A composite garment comprising,

(a) a skirt portion,

(b) a waistband stitched to the upper edge of said skirt portion,

(0) a pair of breast receiving pockets,

(d) an elastic section interposed between said pockets and said waistband and stitched thereto along corresponding edges,

(e) said elastic section being stretchable in a direction circumferentially of the body of the wearer,

(f) an elastic back section stitched to the upper edge of said waistband and to the side edges of said breast pockets,

(3) said back section being stretchable in a direction circumferentially of the body of the wearer,

(h) an elastic tape longitudinally stretchable and secured coextensivoly with the upper edge of said back section,

(1') a pair or" overlay sections each overlying a respective breast pocket and substantially concealing the same,

(j) an elastic loop attached to the upper edge of each of said breast pockets,

(k) each of said overlay sect-ions having an aperture near an upper edge thereof,

(1) and a pair of tie straps secured to the upper edge of said back section with each strap passing through a corresponding loop and aperture for adjustably securing the garment on the body of the wearer.

2. A composite garment comprising,

(a) a skirt portion,

([2) a waistband stitched to the upper edge of said skirt portion,

() a pair of breast receiving pockets,

(d) an elastic section interposed between said pockets and said waistband and stitched thereto along corresponding edges,

(e) an elastic back section stitched to the upper edge of said waistband and to the side edges of said pockets,

(f) said elastic sections both being stretchable in a direction circumfcrentially of the body of the wearer,

(g) a pair of overlay sections, each overlying a respective breast pocket and substantially concealing the same,

(h) an elastic loop attached to the upper edge of each breast pocket,

(1') each of said overlay sections having an aperture near an upper edge thereof,

(j) and a pair of the tie straps secured to the upper edge of said back section with each strap passing through a corresponding loop and aperture for adjustably securing the garment on the body of the wearer.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, in which the first mentioned elastic section is of generally inverted V-shaped form.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the first mentioned elastic section is of generally inverted V-shaped form.

5. A composite ganment comprising (a) a skirt portion,

(b) a waistband stitched to the upper edge of said shirt portion,

(0) a pair of breast receiving pockets,

(d) an elastic section interposed between said pockets and said waistband and stitched there-to along corresponding edges,

(2) said elastic section being stretchable in a direction circumierentially of the body of the wearer,

(f) an elastic back section stitched to the upper edge of said waistband and to the side edges of said breast pockets,

(g) said back section being stretchable in a direction circumferentially of the body of the wearer,

(h) an elastic tape longitudinally stretchable and secured coextensively with the upper edge of said back section,

(i) a pair of overlay sections each overlying a respective breast pocket and substantially concealing the same,

(j) fastening means associated respectively with the upper edge of each breast pocket and overlay section,

(it) and a pair of tie straps secured to the upper edge of said back section with each strap cooperating with the fastening means of a corresponding breast pocket and overlay section for iadjustably securing the garment on the body of a wearer.

6. A composite garment comprising (a) a skirt portion,

(b) a waistband attached to the upper edge of said skirt portion,

(0) a pair of breast receiving pockets,

(d) an elastic section interposed between said pockets and said waistband and stitched thereto along corresponding edges,

(e) an elastic back section stitched to the upper edge of said waistband and to the side edges of said pockets,

(1) said elastic sections both being stretchable in a direction circuniferentially of the body of the wearer,

(g) a pair of overlay sections, each overlying a respective breast pocket and substantially concealing the same, i

(h) fastening means associated respectively with the upper edge of each breast pocket and overlay section,

(1') and a pair of tie straps secured to the upper edge of said back section with each strap cooperating with the fastening means of a corresponding breast pocket and over-lay section for adjustably securing the garment on the body of a wearer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,752,600 Greenstien July 3, 1956 2,869,552 Smith Jan. 20, 1959 2,896,630 Adler July 28, 1959 

1. A COMPOSITE GARMENT COMPRISING, (A) A SKIRT PORTION, (B) A WAISTBAND STITCHED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID SKIRT PORTION, (C) A PAIR OF BREAST RECEIVING POCKETS (D) AN ELASTIC SECTION INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID POCKETS AND SAID WAISTBAND AND STITCHED THERETO ALONG CORRESPONDING EDGES, (E) SAID ELASTIC SECTION BEING STRECHABLE IN A DIRECTION CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF THE BODY OF THE WEARER (F) AN ELASTIC BACK SECTION STITCHED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID WAISTBAND AND TO THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID BREAST POCKETS, (G) SAID BACK SECTION BEIGN STRETCHABLE IN A DIRECTION CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF THE BODY OF THE WEARER (H) AN ELASTIC TAPE LONGITUDINALLY STRETCHABLE AND SECURED COEXTENSIVELY WITH THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID BACK SECTION, (I) A PAIR OF OVERLAY SECTIONS EACH OVERLYING A RESPECTIVE BREAST POCKET AND SUBSTANTIALLY CONCEALING THE SAME, (J) AN ELASTIC LOOP ATTACHED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID BREAST POCKETS, (K) EACH OF SAID OVERLAY SECTIONS HAVING AN APERTURE NEAR AN UPPER EDGE THEREOF, (L) AND A PAIR OF TIE STRAPS SECURED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID BACK SECTION WITH EACH STRAP PASSING THROUGH A CORRESPONDING LOOP AND APERTURE FOR ADJUSTABLY SECURING THE GARMENT ON THE BODY OF THE WEARER. 